Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Paracetamol is cheap, at least

I am sick again.  One or the other of us has been sick or at least poorly in one way or another since about a week after we arrived. Sometimes we have both been sick at the same time which is very miserable because I am a horrible patient but an even worse nurse.

I really would much rather that I didn't have to deal with sick people, and body fluids and their noises.  Do you realise how noisy another person's headcold is?  Very inconvenient. But also when I am sick I don't want any ministrations performed on me no matter how well intentioned. But that doesn't mean I don't want you to offer. I just want to refuse you. It's like the power of saying 'no' is all I have left, since I no longer have control of lung functions.  (Or my bowel functions. Depending.) So if I'm sick, and Martin's sick at the same time - I am irritated by his sickness, and even if he tries to be nice to me I am horrible.

The problem is of course that we haven't been to Vietnam before.  We eat as carefully as we can - no street food etc - but it is inevitable that we are getting exposed to new bugs all the time.  I imagine that in a few months time I will be the picture of good health with a rock solid immune system, but right now I am grumpy as all hell with a runny nose and a cough and no voice beyond a whisper.  Again.

Thank god for e-books and my iPod touch.  And air-conditioning.

After a lengthy consultation with the Guardian's bookshop I have decided to download The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. 

Anybody out there read this?

3 comments:

  1. maybe the aircon is adding to your sickness woes?

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  2. Yes, Aircon isn't that great - even though I'm from around there, when ever I'm there, aircon makes me sick - you dont know how often - if ever they clean the filters.

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  3. Preventative maintenance isn't a high priority for some (most)landlords. I would make sure the filter in the A/C is clean.

    You could also try augmentin when you have a cold. Most pharmacies carry it.

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